Stand Up on the Delta by local non-profit connects U.S. veterans with community and critical services like housing and jobs
By Ella Sogomonian
Antioch, CA –Delta Veterans Group continues its mission to serve those who served our country. The local non-profit is inviting U.S. veterans on Friday, Sept.11 to the VFW Post 6435 in Antioch for the inaugural “Stand Up on the Delta”. This one-day event (video here) connects vets with medical treatment, housing, jobs, as well as mental health and drug counseling. In addition to these critical services, the event builds a sense of camaraderie for veterans who have a hard time creating a sense of community after they end their military service. DVG partners with East Bay Regional parks to take vets and their families fishing on the Delta shores. They will provide a backpack, collapsible fishing pole, tackle and lunch will be catered. Competitions, such as farthest cast, will also take place. There is a 50 veteran limit for the fishing experience.
“As a vet myself I understand how critical it is to extend a helping hand and create a welcoming space,” said J.R. Wilson, Founder of Delta Veterans Group. “Veterans serve their country and community so we give them a new mission to serve the community and these events bring them together to make that happen.”
Since 2015, the non-profit has helped more than thousands of veterans by finding permanent housing, serving over 23,000 meals, providing half-a-million-dollars in dental care, and sleeping bags.
Who: U.S. military veterans and their families
What: Stand Up on the Delta resource event
When: Friday, Sept. 11 from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: TWO LOCATIONS: Resource fair at VFW Post 6435, 815 Fulton Shipyard Road Antioch, CA 94509 & fishing experience at Antioch/Oakley Regional Shoreline Pier at Bridgehead Road at Wilbur Avenue in Antioch, CA 94509
Paving project tentatively scheduled to be completed by Summer 2027.
By DeNise Harding, PIO, Contra Costa County, Caltrans
Contra Costa County Caltrans crews continue making progress on State Route 4 tonight, Wednesday, August 19 through Thursday with paving, drainage, electrical and guardrail work scheduled throughout the corridor.
For the safety of the motoring public and our crews, Caltrans Construction has adjusted its schedule to allow crews to continue various operations along State Route 4 (SR-4). Overnight full closures, including lane and ramp closures, on westbound and eastbound SR-4 between SR-160 and Byron Highway will continue tonight and Sunday through Thursday nights, between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., as construction progresses. Motorists are advised to plan ahead, allow additional travel time, prepare to merge, and slow for the cone zone. All work is weather dependent and subject to change. For current Caltrans District 4 lane closure information click here.
Full Closure SR-4 — Balfour Road to Byron Highway through 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Full closures of the conventional highway sections of SR-4 between Balfour Road and Byron Highway through Marsh Creek Road – for paving operations
Full Closures will continue through August 2026 throughout this corridor
Eastbound SR-4 — Hillcrest Avenue to SR-160 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
Alternating closures of lanes #3 and #4
Hillcrest Avenue on-ramp to eastbound SR-4 — CLOSED for drainage improvements
Westbound SR-4 Ramp Closures 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Sand Creek Road on-ramp to westbound SR-4 — CLOSED for guardrail work
Balfour Road on-ramp to westbound SR-4 — CLOSED for guardrail work
Balfour Road off-ramp from westbound SR-4 — CLOSED for electrical work
Eastbound SR-4 Balfour Road Off-Ramp 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
Balfour Road off-ramp from eastbound SR-4 — CLOSED for electrical work
Please note complete closures, as well as lane and ramp closures, will continue along SR-4 Sunday through Thursday nights as construction progresses. The westbound SR-4 closures are expected to reopen by 5:00 a.m., while the eastbound SR-4 to closures are expected to reopen by 8:00 a.m.
Traveling through the SR-4 corridor tonight? Plan ahead and expect delays. Please follow posted detours, allow extra travel time and slow down when approaching crews and equipment. Your attention behind the wheel helps everyone working along the highway get home safely.
Eastbound SR-4 from Antioch, Pittsburg, and Martinez towards Discovery and Stockton: The detour begins at Balfour Road. Take the Balfour Road exit, turn left on Balfour Road, turn right onto Brentwood Boulevard or continue Balfour Road, then turn right into Byron, follow SR-4.
Westbound SR-4 from Discovery Bay and Stockton towards Martinez / Antioch/Oakland: The detour begins at the Byron, turn left onto Brentwood Boulevard, turn left into Balfour Road or continue Byron Highway, turn left into Balfour Road, continue Balfour Road, turn right onto the westbound SR-4 on-ramp, and continue on SR-4.
Westbound Vasco Road towards Martinez/Antioch/Oakland: The detour begins at Walnut Boulevard. Turn right on to Walnut Boulevard, turn left onto Balfour Road, continue Balfour Road, turn right onto the west-bound SR-4 on-ramp, and continue to SR-4.
Eastbound from Martinez/ Antioch Oakland to Livermore: The detour begins at Balfour exit. Left on Balfour Road, continue Balfour Road, take left turn into Walnut Boulevard, turn left Vasco Road, continue Vasco Road.
All work is weather dependent and subject to change.
This paving project is tentatively scheduled to be completed by Summer 2027.
Caltrans thanks the public for their patience and cooperation during these necessary closures and improvements. Your understanding helps keep our crew members and roadways safe for everyone.
KP LAUNCH Program Coordinator Stephanie Ponce with Summer Intern Jessica Chambers and Jessica in her scrubs at Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center. Photos: Kaiser Permanente
Including Antioch resident, an LMC student
By Elissa Harrington, Senior Media Relations & Public Relations Representative, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
Stephanie Ponce, an Antioch resident and student at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, spent her summer interning at the Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center.
She applied for the eight-week paid summer internship program, earning $25.09-$29.16 per hour, after taking a college course that piqued her interest in medicine.
“This is an amazing opportunity to see if health care is for you,” said Ponce. “There are many jobs in health care that aren’t just working with patients, but also administrative roles.”
Ponce is one of more than 300 interns who participated in Kaiser Permanente’s KP LAUNCH program. The paid internship gives high school and college aged students exposure to careers in health care at Kaiser Permanente hospitals and medical offices. They learn practical skills and receive mentoring from health care professionals.
Ponce said she did administrative work and had the chance to shadow pediatric nurses. She watched one nurse help a child who was scared to get a shot. “I saw how she comforted the patient during a shot. She stayed there, talked to them, and explained what the medication was and how it was going to work.”
Jessica Chambers is a Program Coordinator for the KP LAUNCH program at the Antioch Medical Center. She helped with scheduling and coordinated with the departments on how to provide opportunities for the interns to learn and grow.
“We educated the interns on a variety of different topics,” said Chambers. “We have different people who come out and tell them a little bit about their departments or their jobs.”
Chambers said it was important to keep the interns engaged every day and provide them with opportunities to develop their skills. “We gave the interns an opportunity to see what it looks like in real life. We also had a variety of different guest speakers, because every journey is not the same,” she said.
Ponce said she has always loved helping people, and this internship confirmed she’s on the right career path: “It reinforced my love for health care and doing a people-facing job like this.”
Suspect Camari Coleman in photos from his Facebook page posted April 29, 2025, (left) and Dec. 21, 2025 (right). Source: Facebook
23-year-old held on $1.1 million bail
By Antioch Police Department
The Antioch Police Department has arrested a suspect in connection with the death of 77-year-old Paul Lawson following an assault that occurred in June.
On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, members of the Antioch Police Department Investigations Bureau arrested 23-year-old Camari Coleman in the City of Brentwood. Coleman, of Brentwood, (born 9/25/2002) was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility after the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed charges of Penal Code section 187(a) – Murder and Penal Code section 368(b)(1) – Elder Abuse Resulting in Death.
The charges stem from an incident on June 9, 2026, when Antioch Police officers responded to a reported battery at an outdoor phone vendor stand outside the Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services building at 4545 Delta Fair Boulevard. Investigators determined that Mr. Lawson became involved in a verbal and physical fight with employees at the vendor stand. During the incident, Lawson fell and reported that he was unable to move. Witness statements regarding the circumstances of the fall vary, with some indicating he stumbled over a chair and others reporting he may have been pushed during the fight. He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment. (See related article)
On the morning of June 13, 2026, Mr. Lawson died while receiving care at the hospital.
The Antioch Police Department Investigations Bureau conducted the investigation that led to Coleman’s identification as the suspect. The case was submitted to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office on July 16, 2026, and an arrest warrant was subsequently issued.
According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the six-foot, two-inch tall, 183-pound Coleman is Black and being held on $1.1 million bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for tomorrow, July 22nd in Martinez Superior Court, Dept. 5 at 1:30 p.m.
The investigation remains active. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Duff at rduff@antiochca.gov.
12 law enforcement agencies participated in the operation on May 21, 2026. Photos: Antioch PD
Multi-agency effort in Antioch, Pittsburg, Oakley
By Antioch Police Department
On Thursday, May 21, 2026, the Antioch Police Department hosted a Vehicle Theft Suppression and Enforcement Team (VSET) operation involving the cities of Antioch, Pittsburg and Oakley. The operation brought together 65 officers from 12 law enforcement agencies across Contra Costa County, including the CHP Contra Costa and Contra Costa County Probation Department.
As a result of the coordinated enforcement effort, officers conducted 112 enforcement stops, leading to:
• 6 felony arrests
• Recovery of 4 illegal firearms
• 22 citations issued
• Arrest of three subjects following a pursuit of a vehicle wanted in connection with felony charges
• Recovery of an occupied stolen vehicle and the arrest of its occupant
• Recovery of 5 abandoned stolen vehicles
• 9 vehicles impounded
In addition to enforcement activities, officers partnered with Contra Costa County Probation to conduct probation searches at 11 locations and worked alongside CHP on a business inspection.
This operation highlights the effectiveness of regional collaboration in addressing crime, enhancing public safety, and improving the quality of life throughout our communities. We thank all participating agencies for their commitment and teamwork in making this operation a success.
The Antioch veteran community continues to answer the call of service! Join us on Thursday, June 18th for a powerful day dedicated to supporting our veterans, their families, and our community at a Veterans Information & Resource Fair.
We are honored to announce that DAV National Service Officers from the Oakland DAV National Service Office will be conducting a Veterans Information Seminar and providing FREE VA Claims Service assistance to Veterans and their families.
Services and community partners include:
Department of Veterans Affairs Concord Vet Center Mobile Unit
CCC Homeless Health Care Mobile Services
Team Jesus Outreach Ministry
Antioch Rivertown Veterans Lions Club
Antioch John McMullen VFW Post 6435
DAV Chapter 154 and Veteran advocates
Whether you need assistance with VA claims, health care resources, counseling services, housing support, or simply want to connect with fellow Veterans and organizations serving our community — this event is for you.
We are also inviting all nonprofits, Veteran organizations, and community service providers to participate! If your organization would like to table and highlight your services to Veterans and the community, please contact me directly.
As always, we remain committed to our mission:
“Veterans served their Country and Veterans serve their Communities.”
Tri Delta Transit is excited to announce Youth Ride Free 2026. This program, funded by County Supervisor Burgis and County Supervisor Scales-Preston, provides FREE rides for ages 18 and under from June 1st-July 31st on Tri Delta Transit fixed and express route buses. Tri MyRide and paratransit are not included. No fares, no applications, no ID, no passes are needed. So, enter your travel era and ride to jobs, summer program, entertainment, school and more.
Tri Delta Transit se complace en anunciar el programa Youth Ride Free 2026 o Los Jóvenes Viajan Gratis 2026. Este programa es financiado por las Supervisoras del Condado de Contra Costa, Supervisora de el Distrito 3, Diane Burgis y Supervisora de el Distrito 5, Shanelle Scales-Preston.
Youth Ride Free 2026/Los Jóvenes Viajan Gratis 2026 ofrece viajes GRATIS para personas de 18 años o menos empezando desde el 1 de junio hasta el 31 de julio en los autobuses de rutas fijas y expresas de Tri Delta Transit. Tri MyRide y el servicio de paratránsito no están incluidos en este programa.
No se necesitan tarifas, aplicaciones, identificación, ni pases. ¡Así que incia tu era de viajes, ya sea viaja a trabajos, programas de verano, entretenimiento, la escuela y más!
